Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said, the Empowered Group of Ministers on Spectrum that met today have tentatively resolved all issues including a proposal to levy one-time fee on existing telecom operators. Speaking at the afternoon session of the ongoing Economic Editors Conference in New Delhi, Mr. Sibal said, the high level ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had a two-hour long meeting today. He said, every issues have been tentatively resolved and would be brought before the Cabinet for finalisation. The Telecom minister said, the Cabinet will possibly meet on the 16th of this month. Mr. Sibal said, he wanted all players to participate in the auction process.

He said, a final decision based on the recommendations of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) would be taken by the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mr. Sibal however did not elaborate on the proposals of the EGOM, He said, it would be made known after the Cabinet approval. The last date for submitting application for participating in spectrum auction is 19th of this month.

In its last meeting, the EGOM could not decide on the issue of one-time spectrum for existing telecom operators as the legal opinion from the Attorney General on the matter was not received. Our correspondent adds, the Cabinet had referred the matter to EGoM in July. Later in the month, the EGoM had deferred a decision on the matter till the outcome of Presidential Reference. Following the Supreme Court's opinion on the Presidential Reference, the government is now free to take a decision in this regard.

Existing telecom service providers will decide on participating in spectrum auction based on the decision taken by government on one-time spectrum fee.